Getting to Aravind

Pre-Arrival

A Visa is necessary for you to travel to India. Please contact your local Indian
Embassy or Consulate for the proper forms and information. Note: As of 2007, Indian
visas for visitors from the USA are being outsourced to Travisa India. See the "https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com"
section for website information. Be sure to apply for your visa early enough. You
will need to send your passport together with the necessary payment.

Foreign nationals desirous of coming to India are required to possess a valid passport
of their country and a valid Indian visa. There is no provision of Visa on Arrival
in India and no fee is charged for immigration facilities at the airports. Foreign
passengers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian Visa before
they start their journey to India except nationals of Nepal and Bhutan who do not
require visa to enter India.

The Government of India has issued a rule requiring people with multiple entry tourist
visas to wait for a period of two months before returning to India. Initially, it
was deemed relevant only to those holding five and 10 year tourist visas. So, even
if you have a six month multiple entry tourist visa and you leave India, you most
likely wont be allowed to return to India for two months. Exceptions can be made
by applying for special permission from the Mission/Embassy abroad.

Depending on the length of your stay it may be necessary to obtain a Residential
Permit from the Police Department in Madurai on arrival.

It is advisable to carry additional copies of your visa/ passport/ residential permit.
Having spare passport-sized photographs with you will also be useful.

It is advisable to obtain a travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical
problem before leaving for India. There are a wide range of policies, and your travel
agent can advise you. Be sure to check the small print that covers things such as
an emergency flight home with a medical escort and the ambulance costs. Keep a copy
of this policy apart from the original.

Before leaving your own country you should visit your doctor to receive information
on the precautions and vaccinations needed for travel in India.

Since India can be quite dusty, contact lens wearers may find it difficult, especially
in the rural areas. It is advisable to bring along a pair of sunglasses and some
sunscreen lotion. It also advisable to bring along some mosquito repellant or
use electric mosquito repelling devices..

Travel to India

When making your flight arrangements, try to find a travel agent familiar with India.
Some inexpensive flights can be found, both from the major carriers and also from
some of the new budget carriers in India.

For travel to India from the USA, you can purchase a TSA approved travel lock
with a strap to go around your suitcase, minimizing the chances of items disappearing
from your luggage.

Planes are sometimes double-booked and confirmation of booking and flight time is
important.

When checking your luggage for your journey to Aravind, you can usually check your
baggage all the way to Chennai (or other major international airports). After going
through customs inspection, you can re-check your bags for the remainder of your
journey.

For local flights within India, in addition to the other items you normally carry
in your checked baggage, transfer all extra batteries from your hand baggage to
your checked baggage otherwise they will be seized by airport security during
check-in.

Most Indian airports with international facilities have two separate terminals,
one for international and one for domestic flights. When scheduling connecting
flights, be sure to allow enough time for immigration, customs inspection, and transfer
to the other terminal.

Retain the baggage tags that you receive when you check in, as security may require
you to show the tags when you leave the destination airport.

If you have to stay overnight in Chennai, between connecting flights, we recommend
the Hotel Mount Heera as a safe place to stay.

Retiring rooms are also usually available at the Chennai airport. The cost is 750
rupees for one bed in a two-bed room, or around 500 rupees for a bed in the eight-room
dormitory. These retiring rooms cannot be booked in advance. When you arrive at
the Chennai airport, go to the Airport Managers offices, mid-way between the domestic
and international terminals, and enquire whether space is available. This is a convenient,
clean, and safe way to spend the night if youre leaving on a flight the next day.
The airport restaurant is located above these rooms, on the next floor.

Registration requirements for foreign nationals

Foreigners entering India on a Student, Employment, Research or Missionary Visa,
which is valid for more than 180 days, are required to register with the Foreigners
Registration Officer under whose jurisdiction they propose to stay. This should
be done within 14 days or arrival in India, irrespective of their actual period
of stay.

Foreigners visiting India on any other category of long term VISA that is valid
for more than 180 days are not required to register themselves if their actual stay
does not exceed 180 days on each visit. If such a foreigner intends to stay in India
for more than 180 days during a particular visit, he/she should get registered within
180 days of arrival in India.

The following categories of foreign nationals are exempt from registration:-

(A) Those visiting India on any short term VISA i.e. valid for 180 days or less,

Pakistan nationals are required to register within 24 hours of their arrival in
India. Afghanistan nationals are required to register within 7 days of their arrival
in India.

There is no fee charged for registration. However, US$ 30 (Rupees equivalent amounting
to Rs. 1395/-) is charged for over-stay and/or late registration, if overstay is
condoned by the competent authority.

Registration facilities are not provided at the airport. Registration is done in
the offices of FRROs/CHIO or the Superintendents of Police/districts.

Formalities to be observed by registered foreigners:

A registered foreigner is issued a registration booklet containing his latest photograph,
details of residence etc. An endorsement is made in the passport also regarding
registration. The foreigner is required to intimate any permanent change in his
address to the Registration Authorities. A foreigner is also required to inform
the registration officer if he proposes to be absent from his registered address
for a continuous period of 8 weeks or more. Similarly, a foreigner, who stays for
a period of more than 8 weeks at any place other than the district of his registered
address, shall inform the Registration Officer of that district of his presence.

Registration formalities for foreigners are guided by the Registration of Foreigners
Act, 1939 and Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992

Form to be filled up by foreigners staying at hotels:

Foreigners visiting India on Tourist Visa and not staying continuously for more
than six months in India are not required to register themselves. However, all foreigners
including even tourists and others who are not required to register, are required
to fill up a form called Form-C (Rule-14, Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992)
at the time of their stay in any hotel (which includes any boarding-house, club,
rest house, paying guest house, sarai and other premises of like nature).

Documents required at the time of registration:

Registration form.

4 photographs.

Proof of residential address in India

Photocopy of main pages of passport i.e. those containing the photograph, personal
particulars, Indian Visa and latest arrival stamp in India.